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University of South Carolina junior Katherine Schmidt won the 2014 Collegiate… (Carol Gwin/South Carolina…)

February 10, 2014|Cory Burkarth, University of South Carolina - Athletics, Ridgefield

University of South Carolina junior Katherine Schmidt (Ridgefield/Ridgefield High School) topped a field of 16 of the nation's best college riders on Friday to win the 2014 Collegiate Equitation Challenge at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

"We're all thrilled for Katherine right now and I know her teammates are very proud of her," South Carolina Head Coach Boo Major said. "This year's challenge literally had the best college riders in the country in it, so for Katherine go through such a talented group and win the championship, I think she finally deserves to be called the best in the country. She goes out day after day and continuously works hard to get better, rides extra whenever she can, and is just a great teammate to have. She went out there tonight and proved she's the best in the sport."

In the opening round, Schmidt knocked off Reily Reiker (North Florida), 88-78. In the quarterfinals, she edged Christina Lin (Auburn), 76-65, to advance to the semifinals and a match-up with Baylor's Samantha Schaefer, the best rider in the Big-12 Conference.

Riding Coco, Schmidt rolled past Schaefer, 87-85, in one of the best rides of the entire competition, to advance to the championship round.

In the championship round, Schmidt faced off against Oklahoma State's Samantha Elser. Riding Striptease, Elser went first, posting a score of 80. Schmidt, who fell short two years ago in the flat bracket finals finishing second, made the most of her trip, scoring an 80 to win the championship.

Schmidt becomes the second Gamecock ever to win the Collegiate Equitation Challenge, joining Kimberly McCormack, who first did it in 2012.

"I couldn't think of anybody more deserving to win," South Carolina hunt seat coach Carol Gwin said. "Katherine has a tremendous work ethic and shows up everyday with the goal of getting better, and that's how you become the type of rider that she is."

For the third year in a row, Schmidt leads South Carolina in wins (14) and she is tied for the team lead in MVPs (6). In just the first three months of the season, Schmidt was twice named national rider of the month (September, October) by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) while also earning SEC Rider of the Month honors in October.

Last year as a sophomore, Schmidt went 22-10, posting three MVPs, earning the Connecticut native NCEA honorable mention All-America honors in both equitation on the flat and equitation over fences. She was also named to the SEC All-Championship Team in equitation over fences.

During the 2011-2012 season, Schmidt went 25-7 and was named Female Athlete of the Year at the University of South Carolina. During her freshman campaign, she went 9-1 in postseason action after going 16-6 during the regular season.

As a freshman, Schmidt competed in the 2012 Collegiate Equitation Challenge in the flat bracket, where she finished second.

Schmidt will make the 607-mile trip from Wellington, Fla., to Bishop, Ga. to meet the top-ranked Gamecocks (7-2, 1-2 SEC) as they will face off against No. 6 Georgia (7-2, 3-1 SEC) at 2 p.m. at the UGA Equestrian Complex.